Imperial Guard (Japan)
The Imperial Guard of Japan has been two separate organizations dedicated to protection of the Emperor of Japan and the Imperial Family, palaces and other imperial properties. The first was the Imperial guard divisions (Konoe Shidan), a quasi-independent elite branch of the Imperial Japanese Army, which was dissolved shortly after World War II. The current organization is the Imperial Guard Headquarters (Kouguu-Keisatsu Hombu, lit. Imperial Palace Police Headquarters), a civilian law enforcement organization that is part of the National Police Agency.
Imperial Guard of the Imperial Japanese Army
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2018) |
Imperial Guard | |
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近衛師団 | |
Active | 1867–1945 |
Disbanded | 1945 |
Country | |
Size | 3 Divisions 10 Regiments |
Garrison/HQ | Tokyo |
Engagements | Satsuma Rebellion Sino-Japanese War Russo-Japanese War World War I World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Yamagata Aritomo, Ōyama Iwao, Prince Kan'in Kotohito, Hajime Sugiyama, Hideki Tojo, Yasuji Okamura, Shunroku Hata, Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Tomoyuki Yamashita, Masaharu Homma |
The Imperial Guard of the
By 1885 the Imperial Japanese Army consisted of seven divisions, one of which was the Imperial Guard. A division consisted of four regiments containing an HQ and two battalions each. The Imperial Guard division was based in Tokyo and was recruited on national lines; officers were also drawn nationally.
After the
Pacific War
In September 1939, the division was split into the 1st and 2nd Guards Brigades.
The 1st Guards Brigade, which contained the 1st and 2nd Guards Infantry Regiments, the cavalry regiment, and half of the support units, was transferred to
The 2nd Guards Brigade, which contained 3rd and 4th Guards Regiments, also went to China. In 1940, it went to
In May 1943, all designated Imperial Guard units were renamed again. The Mixed Guards Brigade in Tokyo became the 1st Guards Division (which now consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 6th Guard Regiments) and the Imperial Guard Division became the 2nd Guards Division. The 3rd Guards Division, which never left Japan, was formed in 1944. It consisted of the 8th, 9th and 10th Guards Regiments. Sources do not agree if there ever was a 7th Guard Regiment.
All military Imperial Guard Divisions were dissolved at the end of World War II.
War crimes
In Japanese-occupied Malaya and Singapore, the Guard Division was involved in several notorious war crimes such as the Parit Sulong Massacre and the Sook Ching massacre. Lt Gen. Takuma Nishimura, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a British military court in relation to the Sook Ching killings, was later convicted of war crimes by an Australian Military Court in relation to the Parit Sulong massacre. He was executed by hanging on June 11, 1951.[1]
Organization
- 1st Guards Division (近衛第1師団, Konoe Dai-ichi Shidan)
- 2nd Guards Division (近衛第2師団, Konoe Dai-ni Shidan)
- 3rd Guards Division (近衛第3師団, Konoe Dai-san Shidan)
Uniform
Until 1939, the Cavalry of the Imperial Guard wore a French-style parade uniform consisting of a dark-blue tunic with red Brandenburg braiding, a red kepi and red breeches. The red kepi had a white plume with a red base. Prior to the general adoption of khaki by the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), an all-white linen uniform had been worn in hot weather.
The Infantry of the Imperial Guard wore a dark blue uniform with white leggings for both parade and service wear until 1905. It was distinguished from that of the line infantry by a red band and piping on the peaked service cap (instead of yellow). Officers wore a dark blue tunic with 5 rows of black mohair froggings and dark blue breeches with a red stripe down each seam.
Following the adoption of a khaki service dress, the Guard Infantry wore this on all occasions, although officers retained the blue and red uniform for certain ceremonial occasions when not parading with troops.
In the field, the army's standard khaki uniform was worn by all Imperial Guard units from 1905 to 1945. Guard units were distinguished by a wreathed star in bronze worn on the headgear, in contrast to the plain five pointed star worn by other units.
Gallery
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Original headquarters of the Japanese Imperial Guard, now part of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
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An ukiyo-e print of the Imperial Guard driving back Russian infantry at the Battle of Shaho during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904
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Mounted Imperial Guards wearing the dark blue dress uniform at Emperor Hirohito's wedding in 1924
Imperial Guard of the National Police Agency
Imperial Guard Headquarters Kōgū-Keisatsu Honbu 皇宮警察本部 | |
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VIPs, protection of significant state assets. | |
Operational structure | |
Overseen by | National Police Agency |
Headquarters | Tokyo |
Agency executives |
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Units | List
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After the disbandment of the Imperial Guard divisions, their missions were merged into the Imperial Police (皇宮警察, Kōgū-Keisatsu), a civilian law enforcement branch of the Ministry of the Imperial Household. In 1947, it was reorganized into the Imperial Guard Bureau (皇宮警察部, Kōgū-Keisatsu-bu) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and then transferred to the National Rural Police (国家地方警察, Kokka Chihō Keisatsu Honbu). After being renamed several times, it became the Imperial Guard Headquarters (皇宮警察本部, Kōgū-Keisatsu Honbu) in 1949. With the total reconstruction of the Japanese police systems in 1954, it became a part of the National Police Agency.
At present, it consists of over 900
The Imperial Guard maintains a 14-horse
The NPA Imperial Guards wear a dark blue or a blue-grey police uniform with white gloves while on duty with peaked caps for public duties activities. They also wear white pistol belts, lanyards, helmets, boot laces or leggings. They carry police rank insignia in their shoulder boards.
The Imperial Guard stepped up their efforts to protect the Imperial Family after the assassination of Shinzo Abe in 2022.[6]
Gallery
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Imperial Guard Headquarters building, Tokyo
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An Imperial Guard Music Band marching through Tokyo in the 1950s
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Mounted Imperial Guard police officers in the 1950s
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Mounted Imperial Guards during a presentation of credentials ceremony
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An Imperial Guard sentry at the Seimon Ishibashi bridge outside theImperial Palace, Tokyo
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Modern Imperial Guards at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo
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Imperial Guards in a patrol car within the gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo
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Special Security Unit (特別警備隊, Tokubetsu keibi tai) of the Imperial Guard Headquarters
See also
References
- ^ 7th Battalion The Cameronians Multiple Sclerosis Research Initiative
- ^ 警察庁の定員に関する規則(昭和44年6月5日国家公安委員会規則第4号), translation: Regulations on Capacity of National Police Agency (National Public Safety Committee Regulation No. 4, June 5, Showa 44) "(Final revision: National Security Public Safety Committee Regulation No. 8, Heisei 30, 1990)
- ^ 単位:千円。2018年度(平成30年度)当初予算 - 一般会計(内閣 「平成30年度予算書関連」 財務省)。
- ^ https://www.npa.go.jp/hakusyo/r02/english/Topic5.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "皇宮警察本部概要 | 皇宮警察本部-Imperial Guard Headquarters-".
- ^ "Imperial guards on heightened alert as Imperial family visits to regional areas set to resume". 29 September 2022.
- Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols] Allentown, PA: 1981